Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39871311›Full record

SynthesisBMC pulmonary medicine2025

Pulmonary langerhans cell histiocytosis secondary to Marijuana use: a case report and systematic review of the literature.

Ibrahim Zahid, Aruba Sohail, Roohan Tahir, Matthew Belardo, Brandon Hooks

Abstract readSystematic ReviewCase Reports
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC pulmonary medicine, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Ibrahim ZahidWestern Michigan University Homer Stryker M. D. School of Medicine, Kalamazoo, MI, USA. Ibrahim_zahid@hotmail.com.
Aruba SohailDow Medical College, DUHS, Karachi, Pakistan.
Roohan TahirDow Medical College, DUHS, Karachi, Pakistan.
Matthew BelardoFranciscan Health, Olympia Fields, IL, USA.
Brandon HooksUniversity of Michigan Health, Wyoming, MI, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPulmonary Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis (PLCH) is a rare interstitial lung disease primarily affecting young to middle-aged smokers. While traditionally linked to tobacco use, there is growing evidence that cannabis use may contribute to PLCH.

methodsWe present a case of a 52-year-old male with PLCH associated with heavy cannabis use. Diagnostic evaluations included CT scan of the chest and histopathological examination of a lung biopsy. In addition, a comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to identify and analyze similar cases of PLCH linked to cannabis use. Databases searched included PubMed and Google Scholar, following PRISMA guidelines.

resultsThe patient presented with dyspnea, cough and unintentional weight loss. The patient had a 20-year history of smoking approximately ten cannabis blunts per day. Despite normal initial chest X-ray findings, a CT scan of his chest revealed upper lobe predominant cystic changes and emphysema. Histopathology from a transbronchial biopsy confirmed the presence of Langerhans cells, consistent with PLCH. Literature review identified five additional case reports of PLCH associated with cannabis use, involving patients aged 16 to 59 years, with a mean age of 35.8 years. Common clinical presentations included cough, dyspnea, and chest pain, with radiographic findings of nodules and cysts. Treatment was primarily targeted towards smoking cessation, which led to clinical improvement in all cases.

conclusionsThis case underscores the potential association between heavy cannabis use and the development of PLCH. With the increasing prevalence of cannabis consumption, it is essential to recognize cannabis as a possible risk factor for PLCH. Further research is needed to understand the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying cannabis-related PLCH. As cannabis use becomes more prevalent with changing legislation, understanding its impact on lung health and potential role in diseases like PLCH is increasingly important.

Indexed as

Histiocytosis, Langerhans-CellMarijuana SmokingBiopsyDyspneaHumansLungMaleMiddle AgedSmoking CessationTomography, X-Ray ComputedCystic lung diseaseInterstitial lung diseaseLangerhans cellsMarijuanaSmokingSmoking cessationTobacco use

Identifiers

PMID39871311
PMCPMC11773874

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.